Background
Shultens was born in Herborn. He was the son of January Jacob Schultens, orientalist and professor at Leiden University and Suzanna Amalia Schramm, and was the grandson of Albert Schultens.
Shultens was born in Herborn. He was the son of January Jacob Schultens, orientalist and professor at Leiden University and Suzanna Amalia Schramm, and was the grandson of Albert Schultens.
Schultens studied orientalism in Leiden.
He traveled to England and studied at Wadham College, Oxford, where he became Magister Artium, honoris causa, in 1773. He became professor in Eastern languages, first in Amsterdam, and then in Leiden. Schultens published a translation (to Latin) and edition of Persian scholar First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Zamakhshari, "Anthologia sententiarum Arabicarum: Cum scholiis Zamachsjarii" (1772).
He was also the author of an edition of ancient Eastern fables, "Pars versionis arabicae libri Colailah wa Dimnah, sive Fabularum Bidpai philosophi Industrial" (1786).
He died in Leiden in 1793.